U.S. General Electric is interested in Bulgarian State Railways Company’s plan to become the country’s third GSM operator. The debt-ridden Railways Company may apply for a GSM license if it succeeds to find an investor to modernize its existing communications network. The 4,500 kilometres network operated by the Railways Company has just one 50-kilometer long stretch equipped with an optic cable. The network's biggest advantage is that it runs through the central parts of big Bulgarian cities and its upgrade will reportedly cost an estimated USD 100 M. The 2001 losses of the company are set at BGN 120 M.